Materials:
Mythological Stories
- “Perseus” (Greek Myth)
- “The Story of Moses” (Old Testament)
- “Sargon the Mighty” (Ancient Akkad)
- “The Sword and the Stone” (Arthurian legend)
- Superman The Movie (1978) Directed by Richard Donne
Plan:
- Introduce the lesson with a journal entry: “What is a hero? ”
- List on the board what the students believe to be the attributes of a hero.
- Distribute the four mythological stories to separate groups of four. Have each group member read the story, summarize them for the class, and point out the themes of the story.
- List the common themes of heroic mythology.
- a) Abandonment: Hero is cast away in a small “box” or “boat” across a great “sea” from family due to tragic circumstances.
- b) Fate/Destiny: Hero grows up ignorant of identity but learns of true origin.
- c) Emergent Savior: Hero faces incredible odds to become the unlikely savior.
- The origin of Superman
- a) Ask the students to recount the origin of Superman.
- b) Point out Superman’s relation to Judaism (physical characteristics, Kryptonian name “El” means God in Hebrew).
- c) View Superman the Movie. Have students look for themes of mythology in the story.
- d) Interpretive Essay Question: “Is Superman mythology?”
- Have students compare the origin of Superman to the stories read in class and the themes of hero.
This lesson plan is really exciting! I love the fact that I can use something up to date like the new superman movie that has been out for a couple of years to help students understand mythology. With this lesson plan you will discuss how the heroic and tragic myths and legends of ancient civilization were both their education and entertainment. You really don’t even have to show the whole movie you could show important clips and have the students compare this with there mythology stories.
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pages/433.shtml
This sounds interesting.
Woody Trathen
By: trathenwr on June 5, 2008
at 5:25 pm
I like the premise of this lesson plan, particularly for a mythology course. I haven’t ever heard of a Bible story being referred to as a myth, though, especially in the Bible belt. That ought to get the parents and school board sufficiently provoked! Roberta Wilson
By: rbwilson0824 on June 5, 2008
at 8:32 pm
Rodney,
I like this lesson plan and the fact that use can use up to date material. I think students would really like this!
Heather Connolly
By: Heather Connolly on June 5, 2008
at 11:21 pm
You got my attention. As soon as I saw “Superman” on your blog I jumped all over it! I am sure your students would love something like this.
Theo Ramsey
By: Theo on June 6, 2008
at 3:20 am
Rodney,
I think that this would be a good lesson plan. However, as Roberta mentioned, I would be careful about the Moses story. You would have to be careful not to mention this as a “mythology” story. On the other hand, you would have to be careful not to mention it as “pure fact” either. While we are in the bible belt, people who do not beleive in the bible would be just as likely to sue as people who do.
Mandy Jennings
By: mandyjennings on June 6, 2008
at 6:48 pm
We are not teaching religion… we are teaching about stories.
By: robertclewis on June 6, 2008
at 11:35 pm
The story about moses came from a book. It is not meant as teaching religion.
By: robertclewis on June 6, 2008
at 11:35 pm
That lesson sounds like one that would really motivate students and excite them. Can I sit in your class when you do this? HAHA
THanks for the Idea!
Amanda Felts
By: af78343 on June 6, 2008
at 11:55 pm
Why wasn’t this around when I was in middle and high school? I hated mythology with a passion and something like this would have certainly helped. Love the lesson.
By: katiebrigman on June 7, 2008
at 10:51 pm